Dutch fry cooks receive Ukrainian award for war aid
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Two fry cooks from North Brabant, Netherlands, will receive the Ukrainian Order of Saint Panteleimon for providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine since the Russian invasion in 2022.
Franky van Hintum and Coen van Oosten began their efforts by driving a mobile fry stand 20 hours to the Poland-Ukraine border. Since then, they have served hundreds of thousands of portions of fries and snacks to people affected by the war.
The two men expanded their work to include running shelters for displaced people, and are currently building a second one. They also use their own truck to transport aid from the Netherlands to Ukraine. Van Hintum and Van Oosten have witnessed violence firsthand and lost friends, employees, and acquaintances during the conflict. Despite the dangers, the fry cooks say they will continue their aid work, noting a decrease in overall assistance to Ukraine.
They want to raise awareness of the daily drone attacks that primarily harm civilians, and express frustration that news coverage of the war has diminished in the Netherlands. They acknowledge they can only help a small number of people, but find value in offering even simple comforts like a meal or shelter. They will receive the award on September 20.
